Allergen description

Hev b 9 (1) is an enolase, an ubiquitous enzyme involved in the carbohydrate catabolism pathway. A sequence identity of about 60% was reported between the enolase of H. brasiliensis and the enolases of moulds, and, in particular, cross-reactivity was demonstrated with the enolases from Cladosporium herbarum and Alternaria alternata (1). With the use of recombinant Hev b 9 (rHev b 9), IgE-binding reactivity was observed in 16 out of 110 Latex-allergic adults (14.5%). In a recent study, only 1 out of 40 health care workers tested, and no patient with spina bifida, was reported to have Hev b 9- specifc IgE antibodies (2).